Sheet glass surfacing apparatus



y E. ca. STAHLE 1,856,173

SHEET GLASS SURFAGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l gwuentoz Erik a. arch/e.-

y 32- E. G. STAHLE 1,856,173

SHEET GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Filed Opt. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnoewfov Erik G. 52"0/7/(9.

May 3, 1932. STAHLE 1,856,173

SHEET GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 3, 1932 lTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERIK G, STABLE, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO LIBIBEY-O'WENS-FORD GLASE: COMPANY, OI TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SHEET GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Application filed October 25, 1926. Serial No. 143,904.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sheet glass surfacing apparatus, and particularly to grinding machines "wherein the spindles of the grinder heads are driven and the glass, mounted upon suitable trucks or tables, is carried beneath the grinder heads of a series of machines.

The present invention is directed toward and has for its principal object the provision of improved means for connecting the grinder head of the machine to its spindle, to permit movement of the said grinder head to compensate "for any irregularities of the glass or uneveness on' the glass surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel connection between the grinder head of the machine and its spindle whereby to permit floating movement of the former relative to the lass.

A further ob ect of the invention is to provide such an improved connection between the inder head of the machine and its spin le which will not only permit a limited and variable amount of rocking movement of the said grinder head, but which will further permit vertical movement of the grinder head as a whole.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means for positively rotatin the grinder head.

Sti 1 another object of the invention is to provide improved driving means including a motor, and a speed reducer directly cou led to the motor and to the runner spindle o the grinding machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying rawings. I

In the drawings forming apart of this application and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partially in section, showing an improved sheet glass surfacing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the Improved connection between the grinder head and spindle.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation thereof.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail elevation and sectional views respectively of the housing.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the machine showing the means for positvely rotating the grinder head.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the speed reducer.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates in its entirety a grinding machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and embodying a casing 11 in which is journaled the runner spindle 12 driven from a motor 13 through the intermediary of suitable reducing gears located in the casing 14. This driving mechanism will be described more specifically hereinafter.

Secured to the lower end of the spindle 12, is the grinder head, designated in its entirety by the numeral 15 and comprising a main runner casting 16 bearing on its lower face the planking 17 which carries the grinder block 18. The grinder block 18 and planking 17 have their centers cut out as shown in Fig. 1 to provide a cavity 19.

The cavity 19 is covered by a plate 20, and

formed integral with the said plate is an upstanding annular portion 21 for receiving the lower end of the runner spindle 12. The annular portion 21 constitutes the lower part of a housing 21' and secured to the said portion 21 by means of bolts or the like 74 is an annular portion 7 5 forming the upper part of the housing. A guard or shield 22 is provided intermediate thelower end of the casing 11 and the upper end of the housing. The upper end of this shield 22 is provided with an annular groove which engages a rib 23 at the lower end of the casing 11, while the lower end of the said shield is secured to the upper end of the housing as at 24 by means of a labyrinth connection and in such a manner as to prevent the entrance of any abrasive to the interior thereof.

Formed integral with the main runner cast ing 16 and surrounding the lower end of the housing 21 is an annular trough 25 for receiving the mixture of abrasive and water which is to be used and which is supplied to.

the cavity 19 through openings 26 in the plate 20. The'mixture of abrasive and water is initially fed into the trough. 25 through a suitable supply pipe 27 carried by the shield 22.

A hub 28 is secured to the lower end of the runner spindle 12, within the housing 21, by means of a suitable key 29, and the bottom face of the said hub is recessed or concave as indicated at 30. Resting upon the plate is a second plate 31 provided-with an enlarged central portion 32 having a convex upper surface adapted at times to snugly engage the bottom concave surface 30 of the hub 28.

The plate 31 is further provided with a plurality and preferably four equi-distantly spaced upstanding posts 33, and surrounding the hub 28 and resting upon the said posts is a top plate 34. Passing downwardly through the top plate 34 and posts 33 are suitable fastening screws or the like 35, the lower ends thereof being received within the plate 20 of the main castin 16. Thus, it will be seen that these fastening elements 35 not only serve to secure the plate 34 to the lugs 33, but also serve to rigidly secure the plates 31 and 34 as a single unit to the plate 20 Fixed to or formed integral with the hub 28 and positioned between the p7lates 31 and 34 are four driving arms 36, .3 38 and 39, each arm being positioned between adjacent pairs of posts 33. The faces of the driving arms adjacent the posts 33 are provided with recesses 40 within which are loosely arranged upper and lower pairs of rollers 42 and 43,

adapted to contact with hardened steel plates 41 carried by the posts33. The driving arms are also provided within the recesses 40 with hardened steel'plates 41' against which the rollers 42 and 43 are adapted to abut. Carried by the top plate 34 and passing vertically therethrough are a plurality of set screws 45, one of said screws being positioned above and adapted to engage each of said driving arms 36, 37, 38 and 39 to limit the rocking movement of the head 15..

In the operation ofthe invention, the runner spindle 12 is driven from the motor 13 to rotate the driving arms 36,37, 38 and 39 in a counter-clockwise direction. These driving arms engaging the posts 33 serve to positively rotate thegrinder head'15. Due to the particular manner in which the grinder head is secured to the runner spindle 12, the said head will not only be permitted a limited amount of. rocking movement, butwill belfurther permitted a-certainja'mount of vertical movement as a whole. The rocking move}. ment-of the head willbe limited by the set screws 45 contacting with the upper surfaces of the driving .arms",'a"nd the upward vertical movement of the head as awhole with respect to the runner spindle will be limited by the contact'of the enlarged central portion 32 of the plate 31 with the lower concave surface 30 of the hub 28 while the downward bodily movement of the grinder head will be lim ited by contact between the adjusting screws 45 and driving arms 39 or in the event the screws are adjusted so that they do not ro- Ject beneath the bottom surface of the ate 34, the downward bodily movement oi the grinder head will be limited by contact of the plate 34 with the driving arms. The degree of rocking movement of the head can be effectively regulated by adjusting the set screws 45 towards or away from the driving arms.

The lower end of the casing 11 also carries a stuffing box 46 for preventing the lubrication from leading out along the spindle 12. In order that the key 29 may be readily removed and replaced, the upper annular portion 75 of the housing21' is provided with oppositely disposed bosses 76 provided therein with openings 77. Suitable closure plates 78 are provided for closing the openings 77 and these plates are removably secured in position by means of bolts or the like 79, received within openings in the bosses 76. With such an arrangement, it will be seen that the key 29 can be easily and quickly knocked out of position and removed through one of the openings 77. Also, that it can be readily replaced through one of the openings when desired. A suitable gasket 80 is provided to prevent dust, rouge or the like from getting into the housing 21..

For the purpose of supporting the surfacing unit 10 above the glass, there is provided a carriage 47 within which the said unit is positioned. The upper end of the carriage 47 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed outwardly projecting trunnions 48, and similar trunnions 49 are carried by the casing 11 adjacent the lower end thereof, said trunnio s 48 and 49 being disposed in vertical alignment with one another.

The trunnions 48 are adapted to be engaged by te minal hooks 50 formed on the ends of level; 51. These levers 51 are fulcrumed in} termediate their ends on pins 52 carried by bracket arms 53. These bracket arms are secured to and supported at their upper ends upon an I-beam 54 and are secured at their lower ends to a similar I-beam 55. Formed integral with arms 53 the lower ends thereof are substantially U-shaped guide members 56 adapted to receive the trunnions 49.

a In order to raise, and lower the surfacing unit relative to the glass, the levers 51 are united to form a single downwardly extending arm 57 pivoted as at'58 to a sleeve 59 slidable on rod 60. Also threaded upon the rod 60 is an operating or hand wheel 61, and upon rotation of this hand wheel in the desired'dilid till

their pivots 52 to raise or lower the carriage 47 and the surfacing unit 10. The guide members 56 serve to guide the lower end of the surfacing unit whereby to prevent lateral swinging movement thereof, and also retain the said unit in a vertical position during the raising and lowering thereof. The arm 57 and levers 51 form a so-called bell crank which is forked at its upper end.

In the drawings, the invention has been illustrated as used in connection with a process wherein the sheet of glass 62 to be surtaced is supported upon a table 63 mounted upon tracks 64, said tables adapted to carry the glass beneath the grinder heads of a series of surfacing machines as set forth above. However, it will be understood that the present invention may be used in connection with other processes without departing from the spirit thereof.

Tn Figs. 7 and 8, has been disclosed more in detail, the improved means for positively driving or rotating the grinder head 15. As shown, the depending shaft 65 of the vertical motor 13 is directly connected with a suitable speed reducer 66 by means of a coupling 67. The speed reducer 66 comprises a vertical drive shaft- 68 having keyed to its lower end a gear 69 which is in constant mesh with a plurality of gears 70 arranged within and meshing with an internal gear 71. This internal gear 71 is carried by a vertical shaft 72 directly connected at its lower end with the runner spindle 12 by means of a suitable coupling 73. Thus, it will be seen that the speed reducer 66 is directly coupled to the vertical motor 13 and runner spindle 12 so that the grinder head will be positively driven. The

speed reducer 66 may be of any suitable size and arrangement in order that the desired ratio may be obtained.

lt is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

1' claim:

it. lln combination in apparatus for surfacing glass, a vertical runner spindle, a grinder head including a housing for receiving the lower end of the runner spindle therein, a plurality of spaced vertical posts carried by the grinder head within said housing, a plu rality of horizontal driving arms carried by the spindle and received between adjacent posts, means for driving the said spindle and arms to etlect rotation of the grinder head, a horizontal plate encircling the spindle and supported upon and secured to the upper ends of said posts, said grinder head having a limited and variable amount of rocking movespindle, and a plurality of adjusting elements passing downwardly through said plate and adapted to engage the riving arms to limit the rocking movement of said head.

2. In combination in apparatus for surfacing glass, a vertical runner spindle, a grinder head including a housing for receiving the lower end of the spindle therein, a hub fixed to said spindle within the housing and carrying a plurality of horizontal driving arms, a horizontal plate member secured to the grinder head and carrying a plurality of spaced vertical posts, said driving arms being received between adjacent posts, a second plate member -supported upon and secured to the tops of said posts, means for driving said spindle and arms to effect rotation of the grinder head, said grinder head having a limited and variable amount of universal rocking movement and also vertical bodily movement relative to the spindle, the first mentioned fixed plate member engaging the bottom of the hub to limit upward bodily movement of the head, and adjusting elcments passing downwardly through said second mentioned plate member and engaging the'driving arms to limit downward bodily movement of the head and to also control the amount of universal rocking movement of said head. 3. In combination in apparatus for surfacing glass, a vertical runner spindle, a grinder head having a centrally arranged vertical housing for receiving the lower end of the spindle therein, a hub fixed to said spindle and carrying a plurality of spaced substantially horizontal driving arms, a plurality of spaced vertical posts carried by the grinder head within said housing, said driving arms being received between adjacent posts, a horizontal plate encircling the spindle and being supported upon and secured to the upper ends of said posts, means for driving the spindle so that said driving arms engaging the posts will effect rotation of said head, said grinder head having a limited and variable amount of universal rocking movement relative to said spindle, and adjusting elements passing downwardly through said plate and adapted to engage the driving arms to limit the rocking of said head.

4, In combination in apparatus for surfacing glass, a vertical runner spindle, a grinder head including a housing for receiving the lower end of said spindle therein, a plurality of spaced vertical posts carried by the head within said housing, a plurality of horizontal driving arms carried by said spindle and received between adjacent posts, means for driving said spindle and arms to effect rotation of the grinder head, said grinder head having both vertical bodily movement and also rocking movement with respect to the spindle, and adjustable means engaging the driving arms for varying the lld bodily vertical movement and also the rocking movement of said head with respect to said spindle.

5. In combination in apparatus for surfacing glass, :1. vertical runner spindle, a grinder head including a housing for receiving the lower end of said spindle therein, a plurality of spaced vertical posts carried by the head Within said housing, a horizontal plate encircling the spindle and supported upon and secured to the upper ends of said posts, a plurality of horizontal driving arms.

carried by said spindle and received between adjacent posts, means for driving said spindle and arms to effect rotation of the grinder head, said grinder head having both vertical bodil movement and also rocking movement wit respect to the spindle, and adjustable means carried by said plate and engaging the driving arms for varying the bodily vertical movement and also the rocking movement of said head with respect to said spindle.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, this 18th day of October,

ERIK G. STAHLE. 

